The Fred Page Cup Final shifts to the South Okanagan Events Centre for Game Three, as the Penticton Vees look to cut into the Surrey Eagles 2-0 series lead. The Eagles held serve on home ice over the weekend, picking a 5-2 win in Game One and then shutting out the Vees 2-0 in Game Two on Saturday.
After losing the opener, the Vees were a determined group in Game Two, as they were looking to take a series split back to the South Okanagan. Surrey’s Michael Santaguida had other ideas. The Eagles puck-stopper turned aside all fifty, yes, fifty shots he faced, including twenty-one in the third period for his fourth shutout of the post-season. The Vees find themselves in a two-game hole despite firing eighty-three shots at the Eagles net in the first two games.
Special teams have been a primary focus in the series, as the Vees have had their share of penalty trouble. The Eagles have scored three goals on the power-play, which is operating at 33.33 % in the first two games. It’s been early in games where he Vees have found trouble, and have surrendered three five-on-three power-plays to the Eagles; that will have to stop.
As the cliché saying goes, you’re never in trouble in the playoffs until you lose on home ice, and the Vees have yet to do that this post-season. The Vees are a perfect 5-0 at the SOEC through two rounds and have outscored the opposition 21-10 at home. Sam Mellor leads all Vees in scoring at the SOEC in the playoffs, with two goals and five points. Louie Nanne and Brad McClure closely follow with three goals and six points each. Chad Katunar has all five wins at the SOEC and sports 1.99 goals-against average and a .921 save-percentage on home ice.
The Eagles come in red-hot, as they’ve won eleven games in a row dating back to March 18th in the Mainland Division Semi-Final. Former Vee Brady Shaw leads the team in scoring away from the nest, as he has four goals and ten points on the road. Right behind Shaw is Michael Stenerson (4-5-9) and Adam Tambellini (7-1-8). Michael Santaguida is 5-0 with 1.00 goals-against average and .976 save-percentage; the road treats him well.
The Vees will need to find their scoring touch once again, as they gone now 91:53 without a goal. Game Two’s shutout was just the second this season against the Vees, as the only other came back on February 8th against Merritt. The Vees can take comfort in their home record, including the post-season, they’re 24-7-0-2 at the SOEC; puck drop is slated for 7pm!
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